Oh BABY!!!

Baby Girl Layout is 3D splendor! click picture to get a closer view.  Look at all the details

Used Prima Marketing products, Marianne Creatable dies - pram, "baby", bootie and mini envelop

Baby boy layout showing the same dies as well as a Cheery Lynn Mega Doily die and various butterfly dies

A close up view of the 3D elements, diecuts and ribbon bow with stick pins -- click on picture for closer view

Wow - I love these Shadowbox layouts! First,, they are so wonderful to create, then they are equally wonderful  to hang in various rooms throughout your house, not to mention that they make such cherished gifts for your loved ones.  For the Pinewood Crop being held in Sault Ste. Marie at the end of the month, I'll be presenting the baby boy/girl shadowbox workshop that was such an overwhelming success last Spring.  In this workshop we will concentrate on layering your layout design and popping up embellishments to achieve that more sophisticated appeal.  We will be using several types of embellishments and dies that will add to the texture and dimension of the layout! We'll be using Prima Marketing pattern paper, flowers and embellishments.  We will be featuring several dies from a few different companies that includes Spellbinders, Cheery Lynn designs, and Marianne Creatables.You'll be intrigued and you will come away with another piece of scrapbooking theory!  This workshop will begin on Saturday morning at the Pinewood Crop and in addition to the layout, I'll be showing you some cards that can be created with all of the dies in the baby theme to illustrate their versatility.  Cards can be created for Baby showers, Baby birthdays, birth announcements and/or expressions of congratulations on the new addition.
If YOU are interested in participating in this fall's Pinewood Crop workshop with me you'll want to register  as soon as possible as space is limited.  You may email Deb at OC Scrapbookers to let her know you want to take this workshop and she'll put your name down in the order she receives the requests.  I look forward to seeing you there!  We will have a lot of fun creating a beautiful piece of art for your wall or to give as a cherished gift to someone special.  This is an exciting opportunity that may well assist you in acquiring some new techniques and tips to tuck into your bundle of scrapbooking knowledge!  Hope to see you in our circle!  Quick--- email Deb to put your name down and get a cherished 5"x7" baby photo of one of your favorite wee children ready for this design!

Hello Everyone -- I'm Back!!!

Don't Be Scared -- Its Just Us (or Me)

I'm finally back and I can't believe how long its been since I've posted.  A lot has happened since last fall and I've been easing back into scrapbooking.  Well, ...the excitement is building as the Fall Flurry gets closer.  I'm busy preparing workshops and talking product with the OC Scrapbooking Team!  For the Fall Flurry, which is being held in Walford at the Community Center, I will be doing a layout workshop. I've prepared a two page layout in a Halloween theme.  The pattern paper pack we're using is a package put out by Echo Park called "Chillingsworth Manor" and the layout is fairly simple enough.  We will use some Spellbinder Dies from the Summer CHA release -- wow what a release!!  I've chosen two of the new releases called Marvelous Squares and Resplendant Rectangles.  Spellbinders is getting more lacy and "resplendant" with some of their dies reminiscent of doilies! Deb is preparing to bring in several of the new releases that are being released slowly over this month.  Again, for the layout we will use the Cricut and a couple of Halloween Theme cartridges called October 31st and Happy Hauntings!  This layout is fun and whimsical and one you will surely enjoy - Preregister a.s.a.p. for this workshop by emailing Deb so she can take names in the order she receives them.  This workshop has limited seating so email right away and get out those Halloween Pictures!! 

This 2-page layout has awesome colors of olive green, orange, black and yellow

 

I've used Spellbinder dies for matting and journaling

Here I've used the Cricut, some elements from the paper pack and some dies

Another Shadowbox Layout

Heritage Layout using multiple tools and layered paper elements

Heritage Layout designed with a Shadowbox frame in mind

Heritage Layout now in the Shadowbox

Hello Blogging Friends...

As promised on the last post, I said I would post this Shadowbox layout next to show you all the sample we will use, as well as a couple of other layouts, when a group of us get together to design a layout this weekend at the Fall Flurry Crop in Walford with OC Scrapbookers.  The activity is call Bring It-Make It-Take It and it will be set up cover part of the day so that participants can work with several tools and techniques to explore how to design and layer up paper and embellishments to complete a dimensional layout ideal for framing with a Shadowbox.  These types of layouts are excellent for gift giving.  As the holiday season rolls around, think of all the themes one can choose from to make a dimensional layout for a Shadowbox featuring one or two pictures.  Of course, the sky is the limit!  The activity that I have planned for Saturday at the workshop will focus on 6 participants so that we keep it intimate enough to be able to focus on questions and be comfortable enough to work with the Cricuts and die cutting machines. 
I plan to spend time, answering questions and providing my experience in various methods and techniques.  We will be playing with various tools, experimenting with different techniques and methods that participants may have always wondered about and have wanted to try.  Anyone who is attending the weekend in Walford and want to join us, you must register with Deb at OC Scrapbookers to get a seat. The first 6 to register will get a spot as space is limited to 6 participants.
This picture has my Grandfather and Grandmother in it with my Great Grandmother and two of my Aunts when they were children.  This picture was taken in 1938.  I am looking at a few heritage pictures  from both my side of the family and my husband's side.  They are fun layouts to design and I'm looking forward to this weekend's group as we put our head's together and design an awesome layout.

A ShadowBox Layout for Maddy!

A Shadowbox Layout for Madison Lynn
Our new and very first Great Niece!

Hello Blogging Friends

I have missed being able to post to my blog.  Phew! .. I've been so busy the whole month of September, all while starting back to work.  Things have slowed up a bit here now and I have time to post some exciting projects that I have been working on over the last month and a half.  This delicate, oh so girly layout was designed lovingly for my great niece who was on her way as I was working on it.  I planned to celebrate with family at the baby shower and was thinking what could I pour my loving energy into that would be more of a keepsake than just a card and that would have much more exposure?  I immediately thought of a layout that could be placed in a collectable case that could be hung on a wall and be seen by one and all.   So I began thinking about the elements that I thought would go oh so nicely on this wee little girly's layout-- the elements that are so Madison Lynn.  As I said, she wasn't even here yet... but into my head popped visions of fairies and flowers and butterflies!!  I saw the delicate doilies cut and lots of pearls and in shades of cream and the palest of pinks.  Yes, I was tapping into the essence of that new little girl!  She has now arrived and I am excited to say that she is early and very small but is okay and gaining strength last I heard.  She arrived earlier than expected and tired but all there!!  Bravo Madison, Auntie looks forward to seeing you soon....

Just a word to let my friends know who'll be attending the Fall Flurry crop with Deb at OC Scrapbookers in Walford next weekend.. I'll be working on a Bring It- MakeIt- Take It activity on Saturday at the crop.  I'll be working with a group of participants on a Heritage Shadowbox layout.  For more information, email Deb @ OC Scrapbookers to see how to sign up for the event.  She will have a flyer to share with you that has more details on this shadowbox layout opportunity...
I will be back with more projects very soon, likely tomorrow...k

A True Friendship Card

Front:  A real collection of dies used here in layers to illustrate a detailed look
Pattern Paper: KaiserCraft Peachy Keen
Flower Stamp JustRite 31/4" round colored with Copics

Inside Card:   Lined with coordinating Peachy Keen paper
Carnivale Border die from Cheery Lynn and
Spellbinders Lacy Squares

Hello Friends

This week is warm and sunny but the mornings are now beginning to be a bit cooler and it reminds me that fall is just around the corner.  I have been a busy bee the last couple of weeks as I've been canning, pickling and making jams and jellies.  I used to do this every summer when the kids were growing up but the last 5 to 6 years, when my health began to deteriorate I didn't do alot of it..I didn't have the stamina. Since I've been on the road to better health and a whole lot lighter, I have more energy and I just find I want to do so much more of the things I used to enjoy...  So, I've been crafting in between batches of jam, jelly and pickles.  This card reminds me of late summer blossoms and sunny days that are stretching into the harvest time.  The time when the trees begin to change their dresses from cool greens to bright oranges, yellows and reds in celebration and gratitude for all the bounty and beauty we have in our natural world.

I designed this card with multiple dies from various manufacturers.  I enjoy mixing products and technique tools to get various effects like I did with this card using Cheery Lynn with Marianne Designs and then adding a Spellbinders die or two to the mix.  The first layer on top of the pattern paper is part of the Marianne Creatable's Scallop Circles.  I used the largest of the three circles that make up this intricate die. On top of that diecut I placed a doily from Cheery Lynn called the Kiwi Doily and on top of the Kiwi doily I added a JustRite image from the 31/4" round My Garden set colored with Copic Markers in orange, yellow and turquoise.  The swirls and the flower on the card are cut from the dies that are part of the Marianne Creatable's Frame, Flourish and Flowers.   The sentiment tag was cut using a tag from Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three and I added corner diecuts from the Floral Doily Accents set onto the ends of the tag.  On the tag I stamped "True Friends" from JustRite's Friendship, Nested Sentiments and Verse.  Inside the card I used the Cheery Lynn Carnivale Border die and a Spellbinder's Lacey Squares diecut to be used as the mat for the verse that will be placed there.
I'm feeling the strong pull now to create some seasonal projects very soon.  I love creating for OC Scrapbookers!  Click on the link at the top of my blog here as I urge you to go take a look at what they have to offer over at the webstore.  Stay tuned for the newsletter coming very soon to announce the fall crop lineup and some other very fun stuff lined up for the fall.  Back again very soon!!!

Sending on Smiles with Pizzazz!



Front of Card:  Marianne Design Scallop Circles cut out using 3 separate dies.   Black
velvet mini flowers from the smallest die from Spellbinders Rose Creations.  The sentiment
is from JustRite's Smile set, one of their 31/4" round sets   Pearls ; KaiserCraft




Inside card:  Lined with red cardstock, I used  a Cheery Lynn Border die
Carnavale as a decorative edge and the Marianne Rectangle frame
LR 0116  as a mat for the verse

 

Hello Blogging Friends...

I'm back with a great card that features some of my wonderful new dies.  I'm using a favourite of mine, shiny gold foil Bazzill that I love using on my fancy card designs.  This card is fashioned to achieve a fancy finish in black, cream and red with gold highlights.  The center medallion is cut out using the Marianne Designs Scallop Circles LR 0180  which you can find under the Cheery Lynn preorder section of OC Scrapbooker's online store.  This is where the new dies on preorder are listed and you will find the Cheery Lynn Border, Carnivale  and the Marianne Design Rectangle Frame here also.
The Scallop Circle die comes in a separate trio of circular dies that fit together which graduate in size making a beautiful medallion when stacked.  On this card I used all three beginning with the largest scallop shaped circle on the bottom, cutting it in black velvet. Then to offset the black velvet bottom layer, I used gold foil bazzil cardstock on the next diecut to contrast with the bottom layer.  The cutout feature on this die supports the black velvet as it peeks through the gold, highlighting how beautiful the embossing detail is on this layer. Then, on top of the middle diecut glimmering in gold, I stacked the third and smallest circle, again cut in black velvet showing the contrast again and an added texture and elegance.  Of course the sentiment was then stacked on this layer, stamped in black Momento ink on cream petallic cardstock. The effect is especially beautiful when you're able to see it and touch it. The decorative lacey scroll-like edge around the the outside of the largest Scallop Circle adds intricate dimension and is one of the main features that attracted me to this die.
I lined the inside of this card with an embossed red cardstock and added more gold elements in keeping with the fancy and old hollywood style of this card.  A verse to an special friend or relative to send warm wishes is all that is needed to finish this card off.  Remember, One Smile can Warm the World!

All these products and so much more are available at OC Scrapbookers 'n More.  Be sure to visit the store to view all the exciting preorders available now and stay tuned for the ones being announced very shortly.  More again very soon.. stay tuned!!

A Friendship Card with handmade roses!!

Front of Card: This stamp is JustRite's My Garden Borders and Centers
JB-09705;  which is a 31/4" round ribbed stamp set.  The stamp is cut with
Spellbinders Standard  Circle Scallop dies and placed on a doily die.  I'm introducing
two new Cheery Lynn doily dies and the one I'm using today is called Canadian
Kaleidoscope.  I layered that one on top of Cheery Lynn's Celtic Fire Frame, also
a new one for me and both which will be listed on the new Cheery Lynn and
Maryann Design preorder  specials this week...



Inside the card: I used the other side of the pattern paper to line the card
and placed another Canadian Kaleidoscope Doily in a matching color
 cardstock.  The border was in the same pattern paper used on the
front with Cheery Lynn's Carnivale die - click on picture for a
closer look at the intricate and small cuts and piercings. 
These dies are amazing and a nice addition to any
die collection.


Hello my Crafting Friends...

Its great to be back and I'm so excited to show you this project --- do you see the flowers???  Again, I'm so excited because I made those flowers.  I've had the Spellbinders Donna Salazar Rose and Carnation Creations sets for a while, well.. since Spring and I've not tried them out until now!  With my Grand Calibur and lots of matching pattern paper, I had a blast cutting out various sizes of petals and it didn't take long either.  I used the Rose Creations die set today on these flowers and I made three different sizes to show you the versatility of the die set.  The Donna Salazar Carnation Creations is a set that I will be using in the near future and both of these sets are equally fabulous. Each set has a distinctly differing look to the petals and the leaves providing the whole flower with a unique flair, Wow! 

This week OC Scrapbookers is doing another Cheery Lynn and Maryann design Creatables preorder.!!  Whooeeee!  I've just recieved some new dies to feature this week and today I'm showing three Cheery Lynn Design dies on this card and this combination of dies gives this card an intricate, detailed and very layered look.  The Doily Die I'm featuring on this card today is the Canadian Kaleidoscope doily.  You can only see the tips of the doily on the front of the card with all the layering but inside you can see the whole effect.  It's such an elegant doily shape and puts you in mind of a snowflake which is very Canadian and you can be sure that I'll be having some fun with this doily die during the Winter time on cards and layouts and for the coming Christmas season with all the Christmas cards coming up ~~ well, I can't wait to begin!! 

So my friends... go on over to our fabulous OC Scrapbookers online store and see what is available on all the preorders and what is up and coming for the fall cropping season.  You may want to focus your attentions right now on the JustRite preorder and the CheeryLynn and Maryanne preorders as we move into September.  Deb is gearing up for a fantastic season with lots of announcements coming very soon...   So much to do ~~ so little time!